United WERE the side that offered £100m for Gareth Bale, says Fabio Capello

The Express | Oct 23

Fabio Capello has revealed that Manchester United were the club that bid as much as €120m (£100m) to prevent Real Madrid signing Gareth Bale from Tottenham.

Bale eventually joined Real for a world-record fee of £85m (€100m) but it seems that United were willing to offer significantly more than that.

Real president Florentino Perez had previously confirmed that Manchester United were interested in Bale but implied that it was the Spanish club that were forced into action after the Red Devils made an initial bid for the Welsh winger.

But now Capello has confirmed that if that was the case then United came back in for the 24-year-old and were willing to trump Real's bid.

The former England boss told Corrierre della Sera: "Bale? There was an auction.

"I know that someone offered more than Real going as high as €120m (£100m).

"I don't think I'm revealing any secrets when I say that it was Manchester United.